Stories from Saturday, December 5, 2015

Monday was opening night at Lights of the Delta in Blytheville. The cost of admission was a donation of nonperishable food items, new unwrapped toys, or monetary donations. The night featured Grilling with Santa, with free hotdogs and hamburgers available for participants. Carolers were on hand to provide entertainment...

(COLUMBIA, MO) -- The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has $5.2 million available to help Missouri landowners restore wetlands and $383,500 available for easements to protect agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural uses...

On November 20, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland's Board of Directors voted to approve the continuation of the volunteer/community property plans. In the fall of 2013, volunteer committees representing Latonka Program Center (Wayne County), Mintahama Program Center (Newton County), and Sacajawea West Program Center (Pettis County) presented property plans to the Board of Directors containing yearly fundraising, usage, and maintenance goals. ...

sports@standard-democrat.com Blake Bauwens netted 15 points as the host Bulldogs squeezed out the conference victory to get their first win of the season. The Bulldogs trailed 24-21 at halftime and went on to outscore the Bluejays by six points in the second half to prevail...

SIKESTON -- From a miniature Santa secured in a hot air balloon and a Victorian boot adorned with tiny beads and flowers to the birdhouse filled with a crocheted nest, Alice Tharp puts her personal touch on every Christmas ornament she makes. For nearly 35 years, the 79-year-old Sikeston woman has handmade an estimated 4,000 Christmas ornaments for her family and friends...

EAST PRAIRIE -- A lot of eyes were opened when East Prairie started its season with a loss on Tuesday. Not because it was unexpected, but because a team with not much success the past few seasons had a fighting chance against the defending Class 3 third place finishers...

ORAN -- In a game Advance led wire-to-wire, the Hornets merely confirmed their belief the Scott County Central Braves never really go away. The third-seeded Hornets scored the game's first points, built a 19-point lead three minutes into the third quarter and still had to hold on for dear life in posting a 90-89 victory over top-seeded SCC to break the Braves' seven-year reign at the Oran Invitational Tournament on Friday...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Vonda Kaye Clough, 49, died Dec. 3, 2015, at her home. For the complete obituary, see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat.

DELTA -- Imogene Whorton, 87, died Dec. 3, 2015 at the Chaffee Nursing Center. For the complete obituary, see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat.

WACO, Texas -- Robert Lee "Bob" Carmack, 75, died Nov. 16, 2015, at the home of his son in Summerville, S.C. For the complete obituary, see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat.

I have a daughter that is 47 years old. She has lung cancer that has gone all over her body. Her friends are pretty much gone. I've gone to church my whole life. You know, these people get up in church and act like they are such good Christians. But where are the Christians now? They haven't been to our door. ...

As the tragic events unfolded in California this week, most Americans were asking the same questions -- how in the world did we get here and how in the world do we change so that these tragedies will be avoided. Yet before the bodies were even counted, the finger-pointing began...

JEFFERSON CITY -- State Treasurer Clint Zweifel has once again been checking his list and found several people with Unclaimed Property. He would also like to remind Missourians he has almost $9 million in unclaimed gift cards and gift certificates. "The holiday season is just around the corner which means many of us are getting started with our shopping lists for family and friends," Zweifel said. ...

DEXTER -- The Sikeston Bulldogs have proven to be quite a problem on the basketball court for Dexter over the past decade. Dexter last claimed victory over the Bulldogs in December of 2004, but since that time Sikeston has been on a roll against the Bearcats...